91 replies to this topic

[cookie4343]

Nice work mate looks to be comeing on nice
And panelbeaterpeter what can i say your work is excellent, wish i had your skills to get a perfect job.

[Sleeping Park Lane]

Wow - superb work; what panels are you using? Heritage, Somerford, etc.?

Nice memorial to your granny to restore it to original too - good one.

Will watch this with interest.

LOL at "I just happen to have a spare car for bits"! Wish we were all as lucky - but you've had some time to gather up the bits you need.

[rosco454]

Cant wait to see more of this,great history to have with it as well.

[langers]

Thanks Pete, will have a look at photobucket, I've not got an account at present

The mini is a '68 -I imagine made in 67 while they were still manufacturing the mk1, but not registered ubntil '68, and I have the original bill of sale, will have to scan it and put it up on here!

I've got about 98% of the parts i need to put it all back together, most of the work involved is the cleaning of all the parts, plus I want to replace all the perishable parts (particularly all the rubber parts in the suspension) and bearings, brakes etc

The panels being used are from Mini Machine: http://www.m-machine.co.uk/ as recommended by Pete

[langers]

Ok, next little bit that Pete did is a favourite piece for me, small yet perfect:

The rear drivers side ashtray mounting is missing, another product of an 'good idea' I had as a teenager to mount a piece of wood accross the top of the storage space to sink a speaker into it. Well rather than buying the replacement ashtray holder, Pete made one, and it looks bloody brilliant, a testament to the eye for detail Pete has, here are the pics, enjoy

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[langers]

With the underside and inside dealt with it was the back ends turn to get sorted, the boot floor was a bit rusty around the edges, plus unfortunatley going back to my youth (again!) I had decided to cut off the mounting lip for the rear bumper

The boot floor as it was:
 069.jpg   35.73K   22 downloads

All gone:
 070.jpg   34.54K   25 downloads

The new one:
 071.jpg   46.54K   18 downloads

robbing the spare wheel mount & the petrol tank mounts off of the old floor to go on to the new one:

 073.jpg   31.58K   8 downloads
 074.jpg   28.87K   7 downloads
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 076.jpg   28.96K   8 downloads
 077.jpg   34.37K   9 downloads

Then the new floor in place:
 078.jpg   29.93K   19 downloads

The strengtheners and closing panels in place:
 079.jpg   24.9K   17 downloads
 080.jpg   20.19K   14 downloads
 081.jpg   28.8K   12 downloads

[langers]

and finally, the rear valance in place:
 082.jpg   31.37K   20 downloads

[langers]

Last part of the rear end to sort out, replacing the last part of the bottom lip for mounting the bumper onto:
 107.jpg   37.5K   19 downloads
 108.jpg   45.2K   15 downloads
 109.jpg   45.32K   24 downloads

[Mini Basher]

It's a while since I've read through this project and it's coming along really well, I love the Idea you came up with to repair the holes in the rear parcel shelf, I have the same problem with my car and I'm going to look for an old style ribbed boot and use your idea if that's ok, you learn so many tips by looking at other peoples projects and work, it really does help, anyway excellent work, I'll be watching this one with intrest

Andy

[langers]

It's a while since I've read through this project and it's coming along really well, I love the Idea you came up with to repair the holes in the rear parcel shelf, I have the same problem with my car and I'm going to look for an old style ribbed boot and use your idea if that's ok, you learn so many tips by looking at other peoples projects and work, it really does help, anyway excellent work, I'll be watching this one with intrest

Andy

Thanks Andy, the double skinned bootlids can be hard to get hold of, although you wouldn't really need it to be in top condition- most of them go along the bottom of the lid and that would not make much difference for what you need it for.
Best of luck with it

Nick

[langers]

Next job on the list was the rear drivers side, when the paint had been removed it became apparent that it had been hit at some point in the minis life, and filled rather than replaced. I asked my Nan about it and apparently it had happened about 20-25 years ago whilst a freind of hers had been driving it (a copper- typical for a policeman to crash a car!) and that he had had an argument with a bus! Fair play to whoever did the repair- 20 odd years on and not so much as a hairline crack in the paint to give it away.

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 103.jpg   35.6K   17 downloads
 104.jpg   40.57K   19 downloads

Good as new

[mighty mini jack]

You chose the right man to do this work!

[langers]

Yep, Pete doesn't mess about!!!

[langers]

Whilst Pete was grinding and welding away, I thought I had better get started on the lovely task of stripping, cleaning and spraying of all the suspension and brake components- with 40-odd years worth of muck on them it's so much fun

The first few bits:

before
 094.jpg   34.86K   8 downloads

after
 095.jpg   37.42K   8 downloads

other bits cleaned:

 096.jpg   32.05K   7 downloads
 097.jpg   20.46K   7 downloads

the first few parts being painted, they look shiney in the pics as the paint is wet, but it is actually a satin finish paint (Hammerite):

 098.jpg   33.15K   6 downloads
 099.jpg   32.68K   9 downloads

Plenty more to do yet!

[langers]

Next up for Pete was to start sorting the front end out:

lots of patches hidden under all the underseal
 110.jpg   47.27K   13 downloads
 111.jpg   32.85K   24 downloads
 112.jpg   62.41K   18 downloads

All cut away:
 113.jpg   33.56K   37 downloads

New support panel in place:
 114.jpg   18.62K   15 downloads

The new inner wing:
 115.jpg   35.67K   9 downloads

And in place:
 116.jpg   35.23K   24 downloads

Outer A panel in place and all welded up:
 117.jpg   21.42K   26 downloads
 118.jpg   27.25K   21 downloads

Couldn't believe how many patches there were, that at first you could not even see, because of the amount of underseal this car was covered in, although thats probably why its lasted as long as it has!